The Weekly welcomes its latest California Local News Fellow.

What's up Monterey County?

I’m Chrissa Olson, the newest staff writer for Monterey County Weekly. I’ll be covering all things criminal justice (think cops, courts and crime), the military, higher education, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Carmel Valley and Sand City. I'm particularly interested in the intersections of these topics with equity and the cost of living. 

I just graduated from UC Berkeley (go Bears!) with a bachelor's degree in English. I unofficially double majored in journalism by working at my student paper and in a litany of newsrooms in Los Angeles, the Bay Area and New York City before I graduated.

Nothing itches my brain quite like local news. So in my quest to traverse the best state in the country, I've landed here on the Central Coast, and I could not be more excited to start covering this stunning county. 

I’m here thanks to the California Local News Fellowship, a program where the state pays journalists to write for local publications across California (Weekly Staff Writer Katie Rodriguez recently completed her two-year fellowship and is now a member of the staff). I'm particularly looking forward to contributing to Salinas Valley Now. I think of journalism as a way to give regular people autonomy, hold powerful leaders accountable and demystify complex topics.

I grew up in a beach town in Los Angeles, and my first internship was at the local weekly there, so coming to Monterey County feels strangely homey. No, I never learned to surf. Yes, I will try to. If you'd like to teach me, let me know.

Let's talk. Hit me up at chrissa@montereycountynow.com, or (831) 394-5656, extension 130 for coffee or juicy tips. If you want to talk securely, I'm @chrissa.66 on Signal. Hablo español. And, if you still use this platform, follow me on X.